The giant mouse lemurs are two small lemur species (genus
Mirza) native to the western deciduous forests of Madagascar, usually
located near the coast or other sources of water. They are an
olive-brown colour dorsally, and are yellowish-grey ventrally.
Originally the genus was described as a single species, Coquerel's Giant Mouse
LemurMirza coquereli (named after the French entomologist Charles
Coquerel), when this species was separated from the genus
Microcebus in 1985. However, in 2005 a
second species, Northern Giant Mouse LemurM. zaza, was described.

Giant mouse lemurs weigh about 300 grams (11 oz). They are nocturnal, and they are
active throughout the year; unlike other mouse-lemurs they do not
hibernate, and
instead they feed on homopteran larvae to sustain themselves.
They are an arboreal species, and feed on fruit, flowers, and small
animals like insects and spiders. They have also been known to prey
on the Pygmy
Mouse Lemur (Microcebus myoxinus) in captivity. They
build multiple nests both in the wild and in captivity; males sleep
alone while females often sleep in pairs. They travel quadrupedally, and have limited leaping
capabilities.